Machine for preparing fruit for drying



F. E. LESTER.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING FRUIT FOR DRYING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-11,1919.

Patented July 6, 1920..

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To: all whom it mag/concern,"

Be it known that I, .Fnnn E. Lnsrniua near San Jose, Santa Clara county in the state of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Preparing Fruit for Drying, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates particularly to means employed in thetreatment ofprunes for preparing the same for drying.

It is knownvthat dipped fruit has been subjected to a washing process after being dipped, but thiswashing process has hereto- F'gure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a machine of the character indicated embodying two of the devices formlng the [basis of this invention.

. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical illustration showing one of the devices positioned to discharge intothe dipper of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical illustration showing one of the devices positioned to receive from the dipper of the machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a dipper of the usual type through which the prunes are passed in order to subject them to the action of a lye solution, which treament causestheir skins. to

crack and therefore facilitates the drying process, At 2 is shown a common form of a shaker frame operated in the usual way by meansof power mechanism not shown and having the usual form of screen positioned therein as at 3 and a thercover. y

In my improved form of the machine I insert a shallow pan in that portion of the hopper 4: positioned shaker frame adjacent dipper 1, the same being gently curved from thescreen 3 to the dipper 1 so that prunes moved along screen 3 by the shaking of frame 2 will be carried off of said screen onto the pan 5 and gradually moved across the same into dipper 1. At 6 I show a water-cock con nected to a source of water supply not shown and, when the machine is in opera- Specification of Letters Patent. 3 Applicationyfiled ha 111, i919. Serial are. 316,277.

sifted out through screen 3. slowly moves through pan 5 to dlpper 1 the na ior part of the remaining dlrt, etc. is

li atented iar e, rear tron, chschargmg a contlnuous flow of water into pan 5, the saidpan 5 being closed at one end 7 but having an opening at end 8 whereby the water may readily flow Upon the-5 discharge side I of dipperfl is shown another shaker frame 9 mounted to operate in the usual way by means of power mechanism not shown. This frame also is ordinarily provided with a screen as 10 and sometimes certain other devices for handling fruit. In my improved form offthe machine I insert a shallow pan 11, similar to pan 5, in frame 9 at the reeeivin end thereof so that fruit from dipper 1. Wlll be discharged directly into pan 11, the shaking movement of the frame 9 gradually moving the fruit forwardly to the screen portion 10 and such other devices as may be arranged thereon or thereafter. This pan 11 is also prefer ably closed at one end 12 and provided with a. discharge opening at the 0pposite end as at 13, water being fed into the panin any desired quantity by means of a water-cock 14 connected to any suitable source ofsupply not shown.

When the embodiment herein shown and described is in operation the prunes are deposited on screen through hopper 4t. The shaker movement of frame 2 causes. the fruit to move slowly forward into pan 5, a large portion-of the dirt leaves, twigs, etc, being As the fruit washed away and the prunes are delivered to the dipper l in a clean conditionfor the lye treatment.

The desired action of the lye solution 011 the fruit is secured while the said fruit is.

passing through the dipper 1, and therefore it is desirable to wash this solution. from the fruit before drying. Tn the embodiment of my invention shown the fruit is discharged directly from the dipper 1 into the pan 11, the shaking movement of frame 9 causing the same to move slowly through the running water therein to screen. 10 thereby thoroughly washing the same before any' subsequent operations are performed preparatory to drying. in the present case the pan is provided with a bottom having a smooth; curved. contour over which the fruit moves and the water is caused to flow across the pan. at right angles to the movement of the fruit.

Inasmuch as the invention herein disiii closed resides intthe arrangement of a shal- 10W shakingywasher-dn operative relation V to a dipper, it is clear that a single Washer may be provided at the discharge-side of 5 ceiving jside'of the dipper as sho vnin-Fim the dipper as shown in Fig. 3, or at the re- 2 Without departing from the of my invention. It is understood that changes in it .formys nstru tion, propo tion and th f bp ra ionmay be made wit n h pe of the appended claim. v

g a V Theeo 'billetion With a machine for prep'aring' fruit for drying including a dipper and a shaker device including screening means operatively mounted with relation to each OthGlkOf a frult Washing means comprising a shallowpanmigidly mounted on FRED E. LESTER. 

